By Tamara Shiloh Charles W. Follis, also known as "The Black Cyclone," was a trailblazing athlete born on Feb. 3, 1879. He became the first Black professional American football player. Follis played for the Shelby Blues in the “Ohio League” from 1902 to 1906. On Sept. 16, 1904, Follis signed a contract with the Shelby
This photo, which caused an online controversy after it was posted on Twitter on Sunday night, seems to depict a double-dose of racism a white kid in blackface wearing a traditionally native American headdress and people were (understandably) appalled at such a blatantly racist image. But a look at the context of the photo reveals that this is a photo illustrating the impossibly complex maze of racism in America.
Oct. 20 marks the 70th anniversary of one of the ugliest chapters in the desegregation of college football.In many ways football was ahead of other team sports in North America in racial integration. At the professional level, Charles W. Follis became.